2/2/14

For Better or Worse at Lost Dutchman SP

site 14 Lost Dutchman

The better part is now!  We are at the Lost Dutchman State Park near Apache Junction, AZ.  The worse part started one week ago tonight when a severe sore throat and fever awakened me from a sound sleep.  I could tell that whatever crud had hit me,  it had hit hard.

We were finishing a 5 day stretch of visiting with David’s family, celebrating his grand daughter’s marriage and slightly drowning in the hordes of friends and relatives that were coming through his daughter’s home in Scottsdale.  But it was time to go and I should be well!

Somehow we managed, mostly David managed, to get us out of there and relocate an hour to the east at the state park.  The plan was to spend time hiking in the majestic Superstition Mountains, do a little biking, then tend to the domestic chores of washing clothes and grocery buying.

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Superstition Mountains.

All the tasks were completed, but slowly, with lots of naps in between.  Tuesday was wash day and sleep.  Wednesday was groceries and sleep. By Thursday I was on the phone to the doc at home pleading for something, anything and…bless his heart… he prescribed some magic antibiotic that started working within 24 hours.  I’ll skip the illness details…but it was not a normal sinus infection!

Our plans of staying here for 4 days changed to 7 days.  We moved to the overflow loop as our site had other campers arriving.

I was able to catch a few sunsets.

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There’s a few more…..but thought this is enough!

One day we drove east on Highway 88, into the Tonto National Forest where we camped for almost 3 weeks several years ago.  Sadly, our favorite campground in the forest, Tortilla, has been closed for several years.  We hear that budget cuts are responsible.  The drive to Tortilla Flat is breathtaking with the road snaking up and down through the mountains.

Canyon Lake AZ

Canyon Lake is two miles before one finds Tortilla Flat.

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This monstrous rock hangs over the town? (4 stores) of Tortilla Flat.  It has a name but can’t remember it…something about a shoe heel.  What I do remember is climbing it!  Not from the side pictured but from a gentler angle.

 

While hubby weaved our way back through the mountains, I hung out the window trying to capture the essence of Tonto.

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By yesterday I was able to join a ranger led hike from the campground.  Loved hearing about the flora and a little of the area’s history. 

The native Americans told a tale of a great flood where bad people drowned and good people followed their wise men’s advice and climbed to the top of Superstition Mtn. Some bad people got turned to stone as they tried escape the flood.  They are said to be statues on the way to the top.  The early settlers heard this story and named the range, Superstition Mountains.

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Mistletoe in a Palo Verde.

We have loved our time here and plan to come back before we head east.  I still need to hike at least part of the Siphon Draw Trail!

Tomorrow we head west, back to Quartzsite and the rally at Dome Rock.  Hope everyone comes along! 

 

the rally at Dome Rock. siphon draw flat iron basin

22 comments:

  1. We will certainly tag along with you to Quartzite!!!
    Sorry you got so sick...that is certainly no fun. Glad you doc at home was able to come to your rescue!!!

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    1. Glad that you are with us and looking froward to meeting you in "real life" next month in AL!
      I feel kind of bad for getting so far behind with other blogs. We are still refining how to depend only on solar for our energy needs.

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  2. Oh wow, I hope the beautiful scenery helped in your recover - and your doc back home. Glad to hear you will make Quartzite. Take it easy for awhile too.

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    1. Yes, Emily, the view does help immensely! Saguaros are are everywhere and the light on the mountain is ever changing.
      Looking forward to seeing old friends at Q.
      You enjoy your first spring at TorC!

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  3. Beautiful pictures! Nice to see you yesterday evening!

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    1. Oh, John! I meant to write about the wonderful surprise visit! It was so good to see you and Turk...a new and improved Turk...so full of love! Trying to do a post while I watch my laptop battery dissolve is so stressful! I completely forgot about the nice surprise. I did manage to write and post as the battery dropped into the red....thought I would need to go baack to Burger King.

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  4. Oh, we LOVE that area! I got a photo of Canyon Lake one afternoon when the sunlight was hitting the peaks and they were golden...absolutely breathtaking! And, for some reason, Arizona has the most beautiful sunsets!

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    1. Dear trav4, thank you for your comment! I went to your Deep Canyon blog and that is the prettiest brittle bush flower ever! Bet that Conyon Lake shot was a once in a lifetime!

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  5. Awesome sunsets. Sorry about the crud, but glad you're on the mend. Have fun with the dome rock crew. Take lots of photos and make lots of posts.:-)

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    1. Thanks, Jerry! My energy level feels about normal now...still have 4 more days of meds. Hope to post more but not sure how many egg pictures I can take. Maybe more sunsets?

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  6. Sorry to hear you were not feeling well. I camped there last year for one night during a full moon, beautiful place. Enjoy your time and feel better soon.

    Tina

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    1. Thank you for your sweet comment! This is a great place.....the full moon must have been magical!

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  7. Terrific sunset photo's....glad you on the mend.....really enjoying following along on your adventure...thanks for sharing...Horst sends

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    1. Thank you! Glad to report all is well!

      Always great to hear from you!

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  8. Great blog, Lynne. See you at Dome Rock on Thursday!

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    1. See you soon. We are here and waiting.for.the party to.start!

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  9. Just beautiful....I'm really getting my hitch itch!

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    1. Hoping to see you out here next winter....we are planning to do this until we can't!

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  10. I tried twice to comment last night and both times got booted with "You do not own this identity." Grrrrr!

    So glad you recovered enough to hike a bit of that fantastic terrain.

    The sunsets are just surreal. They are so vivid and wild that I would not expect them to even be on the same planet I live on!

    Hope you have a marvelous time at Q.

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    1. So frustrating! Just tried to call Social Security..on hold for 18 minutes until Verizon dropped the call! And I only have 200 minutes a months with this plan!!!! Comforting to know that crap happens to others!!
      Got restless at camp and came to town...currently at McDonald's checking comments. One outlet in this place and it's full!
      Hoping you are still having fun with your new tablet!

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  11. So sorry to hear that you have been ill but sounds like you are now on the mend. I have seen many photos in your blog from AZ. Do you typically spend your winters there? You are traveling all around our old stomping grounds. We will be there later this year. Any chance you will be spending next winter there? :)

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  12. Yes, there is a very good chance that we will be back next winter....unless unplanned events get in the way. We love it out here! I feel like I can breathe. It's just not the same back east.
    We spent last winter in FL....our favorite place is in the Ocala National Forest. We enjoy the ocean but our FL home is in the forest.
    Currently at Dome Rock with lots of other fiberglass trailers. Enjoying the hum of I-10.

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